Krayer Rips State

ST. PAUL, Minn.--For Harvard forward Ed Krayer, it was a game that avenged the feeling of a bitter loss.

For Harvard goalie Allain Roy, it was a game that had everyone in college hockey talking about how he managed to make almost impossible saves.

Krayer's two goals and Roy's 30-save performance led Harvard to a 6-3 victory over Michigan State Thursday night in the NCAA semifinals here in front of 15,842 fans at the St. Paul Civic Center.

After Ted Donato scored the game-winner off a pass from Mike Vukonich at the 16:01 mark of the second period to give Harvard a 4-1 lead, Krayer scored the last two goals of the game. For Krayer, it was time to collect on the Spartans, who had rallied to defeat Harvard, 6-5, in the 1986 NCAA final in Providence, R.I.

"During my freshman year, most of the guys thought we had the game won," Krayer said. "It was a terrible feeling. I still remember it like was yesterday. It made [Thursday's] victory a little sweeter."

Sweeter because Harvard connected on two of its four power-play oportunities, including a first-period score by C.J. Young. The junior wing's 19th power-play tally tied a Harvard record.

Sweeter because while Harvard jumped out to a 3-0 lead on a power-play tally by Captain Lane MacDonald at the 10:24 mark of the second period, the Crimson defense held the Spartans shotless for the period's first 13 minutes.

Even when the Spartans got on the board on a goal by Danton Cole at the 15:25 mark, the Crimson roared back with goals by Donato and Krayer less than a minute later.

Twenty-three seconds after Donato scored the game-winner, Tod Hartje telegraphed a pass to Krayer, who was waiting in front of the Spartan zone undefended. Krayer skated all alone with the puck and stuffed his shot past goalie Jason Muzzatti.

"It's frustrating when you can't score," Michigan State Coach Ron Mason said. "It's tough to keep up emotion and intensity."

And then there was Roy, who, for his performance against the Spartans, was named to the all-tournament team.

The biggest save of the night came with 10:40 remaining in the first period when Bobby Reynolds tried to wrap around the net from the right side and find the empty side of the net.

Reynolds thought he had Roy and the Crimson defense fooled. He thought he had the open net. But as he tried to connect for the goal, Roy managed to put his stick on the puck and block the shot.

Kip Miller took a stab at Roy with one second left in the opening period but came up empty when the fresh-man goaltender picked off the puck on the one-on-one breakway.

Crimson, 6-3 at St. Paul Clvic Center Harvard  2-3-1--6 Michigan St.  0-1-2--3

First Period--1, H, Ciavaglia 15 (Weisbrod, Krayer) 3:58; 2, H, Young 33 (Donato, Ciavaglia) 6:54; Penalties--M, Russell (charging) 5:38; H, Carone (holding) 11:30; Carone (holding) 17:35; H, Melrose (holding) 18:55.

Second Period--3, H, MacDonald 30 (Ciavaglia, Donato) 10:24; 4, M, Cole 27 (Woolley, K. Miller) 15:25; 5, H, Donato 12 (Vukonich) 16:01; 6, H, Krayer 10 (Hartje, Caplan) 16:24. Penalties--M, Woolley (holding) 8:41; M, Hamilton (holding) 14:31; H, Bourbeau (holding) 15:10; H, Young (rouhging) 19:54.

Third Period--7, H, Krayer 11 (Ciavaglia, Weisbrod) 5:10; 8, M, Heaphy 23 (White, Hamilton) 6:37; 9, M, Cole 28 (unassisted) 14:15. Penalties--Russell (high sticking) 6:58; M, Reynolds (high sticking) 12:01; H, Caplan (high sticking) 12:01; M, Heaphy (cross checking) 17:18; H, Sneddon (hooking) 18:57.

Saves--H, 15-2-13--30; M, Muzzatti 12-7-6--25.

Power Play Opps: N, 2-4; M 1-6.

A: 15,842